'"How did you fare on your foreign voyage,
" How did your adventure go, dear Beowulf, when you abruptly decided
Beowulf, since you abruptly went to sail away across the salt water
you set sail overseas and fight at Heorot?
and help Heorot? Did you help Hrothgar
Did you help hrothgar much in the end? Could you ease the prince
in the end? Did you ease the prince of his well-known troubles?
of his known troubles? Your undertaking
Your adventure cast my spirits down, I dreaded the outcome
saddened me, I was scared of the ending of your expedition and pleaded with you
of your adventure and tried to convince you long and hard to leave the killer be,
to leave the monster be let the South-Danes settle their own
let the South-Danes settle their own troubles blood-feud with Grendel. So God be thanked
with Grendel. So thank God I am granted this sight of you, safe and sound."
I can see you, safe and sound Beowulf, son of Ecgtheow, spoke:
Beowulf, son of Ecgtheow, spoke: "What happened, Lord Hygelac, is hardly a secret
Everyone knows what happened, Lord Hygelac any more among the men in this world-
among the men of this world myself and Grendel coming to grips
that Grendel and I fought on the very spot where he visited destruction
on the very spot he visited on the Victory-Shieldings and violated
the Victory-Shieldings life and limb, losses I avenged
and avenged all the lives so no earthly offspring of Grendel's
so Grendel could need ever boast of that bout before dawn,
boast no more no matter how long the last of his evil
no matter how long the last of his evil family survives.
family survives When I first landed
When I first landed I hastened to the ring-hall ad saluted Hrothgar.
I quickly went and greeted Hrothgar. Once he discovered why I had come
Once he knew my motives the son of Halfdane sent me immediately
the son of Halfdane to sit with his own sons on the bench.
had me sit with his own sons It was a happy gathering. In my whole life
It was a happy gathering. In my whole life I have never seen mead enjoyed more
I never saw mead enjoyed so much. in any hall on earth. Sometimes the queen
Sometimes the queen herself appeared, peace-pledge between nations,
herself appeared, peace-keeper between nations, to hearten the young ones and hand out
to hearten the young ones and hand out a torque to a warrior, then take her place.
a torque to a warrior, then return to her place. Sometimes Hrothgar's daughter distributed
Sometimes Hrothgar's daughter distributed ale to older ranks, in order on the benches:
ale to older ranks, in order on the benches: I heard the company call her Freawaru
I learned her name, Freawaru as she made her rounds, presenting men
as she passed around, presenting men with the gem-studded bowl, young bride-to-be
with the gem-studded bowl, young bride-to-be to the gracious Ingeld, in her gold-trimmed attire.'"
to the gracious Ingeld, in her gold-trimmed attire.
Lines 1987-2025
'"How did you fare on your foreign voyage,
" How did your adventure go,
dear Beowulf, when you abruptly decided
Beowulf, since you abruptly went
to sail away across the salt water
you set sail overseas
and fight at Heorot?
and help Heorot?
Did you help Hrothgar
Did you help hrothgar
much in the end? Could you ease the prince
in the end? Did you ease the prince
of his well-known troubles?
of his known troubles?
Your undertaking
Your adventure
cast my spirits down, I dreaded the outcome
saddened me, I was scared of the ending
of your expedition and pleaded with you
of your adventure and tried to convince you
long and hard to leave the killer be,
to leave the monster be
let the South-Danes settle their own
let the South-Danes settle their own troubles
blood-feud with Grendel. So God be thanked
with Grendel. So thank God
I am granted this sight of you, safe and sound."
I can see you, safe and sound
Beowulf, son of Ecgtheow, spoke:
Beowulf, son of Ecgtheow, spoke:
"What happened, Lord Hygelac, is hardly a secret
Everyone knows what happened, Lord Hygelac
any more among the men in this world-
among the men of this world
myself and Grendel coming to grips
that Grendel and I fought
on the very spot where he visited destruction
on the very spot he visited
on the Victory-Shieldings and violated
the Victory-Shieldings
life and limb, losses I avenged
and avenged all the lives
so no earthly offspring of Grendel's
so Grendel could
need ever boast of that bout before dawn,
boast no more
no matter how long the last of his evil
no matter how long the last of his evil
family survives.
family survives
When I first landed
When I first landed
I hastened to the ring-hall ad saluted Hrothgar.
I quickly went and greeted Hrothgar.
Once he discovered why I had come
Once he knew my motives
the son of Halfdane sent me immediately
the son of Halfdane
to sit with his own sons on the bench.
had me sit with his own sons
It was a happy gathering. In my whole life
It was a happy gathering. In my whole life
I have never seen mead enjoyed more
I never saw mead enjoyed so much.
in any hall on earth. Sometimes the queen
Sometimes the queen
herself appeared, peace-pledge between nations,
herself appeared, peace-keeper between nations,
to hearten the young ones and hand out
to hearten the young ones and hand out
a torque to a warrior, then take her place.
a torque to a warrior, then return to her place.
Sometimes Hrothgar's daughter distributed
Sometimes Hrothgar's daughter distributed
ale to older ranks, in order on the benches:
ale to older ranks, in order on the benches:
I heard the company call her Freawaru
I learned her name, Freawaru
as she made her rounds, presenting men
as she passed around, presenting men
with the gem-studded bowl, young bride-to-be
with the gem-studded bowl, young bride-to-be
to the gracious Ingeld, in her gold-trimmed attire.'"
to the gracious Ingeld, in her gold-trimmed attire.